MTERA is excited to announce that the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, (LTBB) has joined MTERA as our 18th Member Tribe. In September 1994, the Tribe was federally reaffirmed with the signing of Public Law 103-324. With over 4,000 Tribal members, the historically delineated reservation area, is located in the north-western part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Please join us in welcoming them as our newest energy champions!
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden-Harris Administration today announced a $51 million Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate the electrification of the nation’s transportation sector and spur private sector investments in clean transportation. The administration also today announced the launch of the National Charging Experience Consortium to advance rapid, on-the-ground solutions that ensure a convenient, reliable, equitable, and easy-to-use charging experience for all Americans with chargers that are made in America. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), will administer the Ride and Drive Electric program and has funded DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory to lead the National Charging Experience Consortium. The Joint Office, managed by the Departments of Energy (DOE) and Transportation (DOT), was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build a national electric vehicle charging network that will spark public confidence in EV adoption and fill charging gaps in rural, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach locations. Today’s announcements support President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle out—rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, creating good paying jobs, and building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are developing a robust and reliable EV charging network that is accessible in all communities and easy to use for all riders and drivers,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Rapidly modernizing and electrifying key parts of our transportation sector is how we’ll meet consumer needs and achieve widespread electrification.”
“Under President Biden’s leadership, we are creating a new generation of good-paying jobs building the vehicles of the future and the infrastructure that supports them,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The EV revolution is well underway, and this funding will help to ensure that every American can access the benefits and count on a reliable EV charging network across the country.”
Ride and Drive Electric Funding Opportunity Announcement
Electrifying America’s transportation sector will play a critical role in mitigating greenhouse gas pollution and climate change while benefiting all Americans through improved health outcomes, reduced fuel and maintenance costs, and strengthened energy security. With more than 3 million EVs on the road, federal investments to reach President Biden’s goal of building a national network of 500,000 public EV charging ports will allow even more Americans to make the switch to electric. The Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity will advance this mission by:
Enhancing EV charging resilience
Providing equitable access and opportunity in electrification through community-driven models for EV charging deployment and workforce development
Improving EV charging performance and reliability
This funding will help to increase reliability of chargers by providing funding for validating and testing charging equipment; advance new business models for electrified shared mobility and fleet-based services; and increase opportunities for underserved communities through new jobs and training resources, among others. Aligning with the President’s Justice40 Initiative, all applicants must outline the benefits that will be delivered to disadvantaged communities through the Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity.
Read the full Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity announcement here. The submission deadline for concept papers is June 16, 2023. Only applicants who have submitted an eligible concept paper will be eligible to submit a full application. The submission deadline for full applications is July 28, 2023.
The National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX)
Led by DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the ChargeX Consortium will rapidly develop solutions that ensure an easy and reliable charging experience for all Americans. The objective of ChargeX is to help the EV industry achieve first-time plug-in success every time a customer uses public charging infrastructure. ChargeX will collaborate with organizations representing a cross-section of the EV charging industry on usability and accessibility issues that require multi-stakeholder collaboration to address. The Consortium already has commitments from nearly 30 companies and organizations that are working to support the deployment of a reliable national charging network. The ChargeX Consortium complements the foundation for charging reliability established by the minimum standards for Federal Highway Administration Title 23 funded EV charging infrastructure projects and complements the Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity.
For more information or to request to join the ChargeX Consortium, visit chargex.inl.gov.
Due to climate change, wildfires are increasing in intensity and size, resulting in damaging economic, environmental, and community health impacts. May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and we’re shedding light on the damaging impact of wildfires, how to prevent them, and how to protect yourself this upcoming wildfire season.
MTERA is extremely excited to welcome the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, as our 17th Member Tribe. The Gun Lake Tribe is located just south of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is part of the historic Three Fires Confederacy, an alliance of the Pottawatomi (Bodewadmi), Ottawa (Odawa) and Chippewa (Ojibwe).
Please join us in welcoming them as our newest energy champions!
For Immediate Release
April 27, 2023
Contact:
Manu Tupper (Schatz) at press@indian.senate.gov
Jacqueline Bisille (Murkowski) at jacqueline_bisille@indian.senate.gov
SCHATZ, MURKOWSKI INTRODUCE BILL TO EXPAND TRIBAL LEASE AUTHORITY, SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, introduced the Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act (UNLOCKED Act) [indian.senate.gov]. The bill would authorize all federally recognized Tribes to issue leases of up to 99 years and affirm Tribal authority to issue rights-of-way to eliminate barriers to Tribal infrastructure and economic development projects.
“Congress provided the most funding ever for Tribal energy and infrastructure development through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Chairman Schatz. “But existing statutory barriers prevent Tribes from effectively using these historic resources. Our bill would remove those barriers and unlock the door to more Tribal economic development.”
“Our bill provides Tribes with the needed certainty to better plan and execute economic development projects. If enacted, Congress will no longer have to pass stand-alone legislation to allow for such long-term leasing as it has done 59 times since 1955 or wait for BIA to approve rights of way applications,” said Vice Chairman Murkowski. “It is time we eliminate the red tape and allow for tribal self-determination so that we can fully implement the programs in the bipartisan infrastructure law without unnecessary delays.”
The full text of the bill is available here [indian.senate.gov].
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 to Thursday, May 18, 2023
You are invited to attend a conference on how states and the federal government can work cooperatively to accelerate states’ efforts to decarbonize. The conference— Advancing Towards 100% Clean Energy: A State-Federal Summit — is part of a new initiative from the US Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA).
By attending this meeting, you can:
Meet state officials and stakeholders working on deep decarbonization in states across the country;
Hear from and interact with federal officials who are administering federal clean energy initiatives;
Explore opportunities for state implementation of provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law;
Learn about innovative state-level clean energy programs.
The first day of the meeting is open to all stakeholders, while the second day is limited to state and federal government employees.
COST: Registration is free for state and federal government employees. For participants who are not from state or federal government agencies, there is a $190 registration fee to attend Day 1 of the Summit on May 17th, which must be received by May 1, 2023. Payment may be sent in via PayPal when you complete the registration form or by clicking HERE. The registration fee includes lunch and participation in the networking reception at the close of Day 1.
ACCOMODATIONS: This event will be held at the Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University. CESA has secured a room block at a rate of $219/night plus facility fee and tax ($265.53 total). Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the evenings of May 16-18. The room block closes on April 14. Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. A link to reserve your hotel room is on the registration form.
TRAVEL ASSISTANCE: CESA can provide travel assistance for one state employee delegate from at least 30 states to attend the Summit. The delegate will receive reimbursement for two nights’ stay at the conference hotel, plus travel expenses (up to $400 for individuals within 750 miles of DC, or up to $600 for individuals coming from further away). You can indicate your need for travel assistance on the registration form.
QUESTIONS: If you have any questions about the Summit, contact Sam Schacht at sam.schacht@cleanegroup.org. If you have any questions about the hotel reservation process, contact Meghan Monahan at meghan@cleanegroup.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 19, 2023
Milwaukee, WI - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced last week that they will award two of the seventeen Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTAC) awards to EPA region 5. MTERA is happy to announce partnerships with both awardees; Blacks in Green (BIG) and the University of Minnesota. The two EJ TCTAC awards will each receive $10 million in grant funding over five years to establish technical assistance centers across EPA’s Region 5 territory, which includes 35 Tribal lands in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
These coalitions led by Blacks in Green, the University of Minnesota, and the grant funding partnership will ensure MTERA’s mission to continue serving the Tribal communities in the Midwest. The awards are the beginning of a transition for Tribal communities here in the Midwest and speak to the Biden Administration’s Justice40 commitment which pledged 40% of federal funds dedicated to climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure to historically disadvantaged communities.
MTERA is dedicated to unlocking the vast energy resources of Midwest Tribes and believes this opportunity will allow us to continue our work pursuing energy sovereignty for all Tribes while coming together to leverage the collective strength of our communities across the Midwest. As this opportunity unfolds in the coming months, check back in at MTERA.org for updates and contact our team to learn how you can get involved, become a member, or find more information.
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About the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association
A non-profit, intertribal organization comprised of Tribes in Region 5, the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA) is dedicated to supporting Tribes to lead in the clean energy transition, enhance energy sovereignty, expand economic development opportunities, and improve environmental outcomes. Learn more about MTERA at www.mtera.org.
Contact:
Carri Chapman
carri.chapman@mtera.org
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's Environmental Programs used a CERTs Seed Grant to better implement their sustainability tours.
As a result, hundreds of people were introduced to the extensive sustainability initiatives within this community through the tours, including over 200 children during their Earth Day tour!
Learn more about the projects featured on their Sustainability Living Tours, and download their Energy Profile Booklet.
. APRIL 2023
Story by Joel Haskard
"The 2023 Annual Tribal Energy Equity Summit will assemble, for the first time, Native American tribal leaders and officials from the Federal Government, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of the Interior for the purposes of establishing relationships and catalyzing more meaningful and effective dialogue about critical energy considerations such as siting, transmission, interconnection and the many resources available to tribes to support a just transition to clean energy."
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and related legislation provide Native American tribes with access to billions of dollars for the development of clean energy infrastructure. However, without capacity building support and significant changes to current grid interconnection policies, the transformative potential and intent of the IRA will not be realized.
The Summit agenda is centered around equitable energy policy and conversations about energy access, interconnection challenges, electricity rate disparities, long-term energy planning, technical support, financing and grant support, cultivation of partnership opportunities will be fostered.
During the Summit, with support from professional Native facilitators throughout, tribes can convene one-on-one with representatives from federal and state agencies to share their experiences, listen, learn, and build strong relationships, which are essential for equitable clean energy development. The ultimate goal of this gathering is to bring about more tribally-led projects, leading to significant socioeconomic and environmental benefits for tribal communities.
The Summit is open to leaders from federally and state recognized tribes at no cost and to their supporting organizations at a fee. Travel stipends are available for qualifying tribal participants.
Today, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the White House released the first edition of a new resource, “Guidebook to the Inflation Reduction Act’s Clean Energy and Climate Investments in Indian Country,” which provides clear descriptions of the law’s tax incentives and funding programs for which Tribes are eligible.
“Indigenous communities are on the front lines of the intensifying and unique impacts of the climate crisis. It is critical that Tribes have access to the benefits of the transformational investments from the Inflation Reduction Act for the benefit of their people,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “As the Biden-Harris administration continues to implement this historic law, we will ensure that Tribes have the opportunity to provide meaningful and pre-decisional feedback to ensure they can leverage all of the opportunities presented by this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
In keeping with the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision of achieving prosperity and resilience for all Tribal nations, the Inflation Reduction Act provides more than $720 million for programs dedicated to Tribal lands and Native communities. These programs will ensure more Tribal households have access to affordable and clean electricity, make Native communities more resilient to the growing threats posed by climate change, and bring the benefits of clean energy to Indian Country.
In addition to these dedicated programs, the Guidebook outlines Tribal eligibility for other aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act, including billions in grant and loan programs and clean energy tax incentives. As non-taxable entities, Tribes generally have not benefited from clean energy tax credits designed to incentivize clean energy deployment. Now, the Inflation Reduction Act allows Tribes to receive direct payments in lieu of tax credits, allowing them to get money back on their clean energy investments.
“For far too long, federal programs and resources to develop clean, affordable, and reliable energy have been inaccessible to Native communities,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation. “Today’s guidebook will help tribes navigate all of the opportunities available to them through President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act as part of his Investing in America agenda.”
Since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act more than seven months ago, his administration has been working quickly to design, develop, and implement its programs. This Guidebook provides information on current and prospective clean energy and climate programs. In the coming weeks and months, new developments will be published on www.CleanEnergy.gov to keep stakeholders and potential beneficiaries up to date on the latest deadlines and details.
The Inflation Reduction Act is a cornerstone of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda centered on workers, families, and communities. President Biden has made transparent communication and open engagement top priorities as a means to ensure successful implementation and to fully unlock the unprecedented benefits of the law. This Guidebook is critical step toward delivering on that vision.
To view the Guidebook in full, click here.
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Tribal land in the United States represents approximately 2% of the country’s total landmass and holds more than 5% of solar photovoltaic (PV) potential (Doris, Lopez, and Beckley 2013). This resource is largely untapped. Many Tribes are actively seeking to engage in solar development; a review of 35 Tribal strategic energy plans in 2019 revealed that 32 of 35 Tribes were exploring solar options for their communities. Many Tribes also cited regulatory hurdles to achieving these goals. This project, Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment, seeks to unlock some of this potential by bringing Tribal, regulatory, utility, and other stakeholders together to articulate key barriers to Tribal solar adoption and develop replicable solutions. By increasing institutional capacity and developing frameworks, trainings, and a targeted technical document repository for regulatory bodies, utilities, and Tribes, this project can help expand an emerging market.
The collaborative efforts between National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA), the “Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment Guidebook” has been officially published! We couldn’t have completed this project without the many contributions; from case study interviews, one on one conversations, and listening sessions. Miigwech - Thank you to everyone that contributed to this amazing project.
Read the Guidebook here: Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment
Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Tribal Facility and Residential Project Grant Program.
All applications must be submitted before the deadline of May 31, 2023. Please review the following information listed below and the click the Apply Now button to begin the application process. If you have any questions regarding the grant application process please refer to the FAQ page and you may also contact us at grants@tribalsolar.org
TSAF will offer an informational webinar on Thursday April 6, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. EST
(10am PST, 11am MST, 12pm CST). Please register HERE.
Supplemental Grant Documents
Budget Form Template
Project Timeline Template
Our Call for Proposals for the 2023 Midwest Environmental Education Conference is live now! We are seeking field trip and session proposals that tie into the theme At Hinųkwaseja: Restoring connections to land and each other! Proposals are due April 15th. Submit today at https://forms.gle/F55CV42m56qfsTsJ7 #MEEC2023 #environmentaleducation #Wisconsin #Iowa #Illinois #Minnesota
Written by Brandon HofstedtA part of the Lunch-n-Learn program
This second webinar in the Clean Energy Funding Series focuses on empowering local governments, tribes, schools, and nonprofits to access funding successfully so that Wisconsin can prosper in the transition to the clean energy economy. Our expert panelists inform you of current Federal and state grants, payments, and financing opportunities and what you can do to prepare to apply for them.
Coming soon!
Summary of Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and Production Tax Credit (PTC) Values Over Time
DOE’s New Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program – Technical Assistance
Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics (also in Spanish)
How the Inflation Reduction Act Impacts Solar Deployment and Expands Manufacturing (including slides)
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency® – DSIRE
Justice 40 Resources
A letter from Secretary Granholm on the Department’s commitment to Justice40 implementation
The DACs Reporter tool, which allow users to explore and produce reports on the census tracts DOE has categorized as DACs
WI Office of Sustainability & Clean Energy, Grant Writing Tips, PowerPoint
Focus on Energy, 2023 Local Government, Tribe, and School Offerings, PowerPointDownload
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Incentives for Schools and Governments
Interactive Tool to find the Energy Advisor in Your Area by Business Type
An Interactive Tool to find a Focus on Energy Registered Trade Ally in Your Area
179D Commercial Buildings Energy-Efficiency Tax Deduction for Public Schools
Learn how school districts can take advantage of the 179D tax deduction.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources for State and Local Leaders
This resource guide highlights resources and publications from the State and Local Solution Center website and across US DOE’s Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) programs.
The State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform
SLOPE’s groundbreaking Scenario Planner allows users to visualize scenarios for future energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and system costs of a selected state or county. The Platform also features SLOPE Stories, which provide real-world examples of how states and local governments are using SLOPE to better understand their energy use and clean energy potential. SLOPE’s Data Viewer integrates energy and environmental justice-related data and projections for the cost and performance of key efficiency technologies.
Energy Savings Performance Contracting for Small Projects Primer
US DOE, May 2021 highlights strategies and case studies for implementing Energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) in smaller towns, rural counties, and small school districts to complete energy upgrades and maximize energy and cost savings without straining local budgets.
This resource can help state, local government, and K-12 school staff managing small- and medium-sized facilities to strategically prioritize and finance energy-saving projects.
US DOE, February 2022, invites organizations to set ambitious, portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. This new challenge provides additional opportunities for peer exchange and technical assistance to meet the urgent call to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Clean Energy for Low Income Communities Accelerator (CELICA) Toolkit
Developed from a voluntary partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and state and local governments to lower energy bills for low-income communities.
Energy Justice Mapping Tool for Schools
A tool to explore and produce reports for individual school facilities based on several metrics. Tutorial video YouTube
The Financial Case for Zero Net Energy Schools
Getting to Zero is a brief on the cost associated with zero net energy schools.
Financing Efficient and Healthy Retrofits for high performance schools
US DOE website of resources features solutions to access capital and financing energy-efficiency projects in schools.
Learn how to implement efficiency projects with no upfront capital expenditure
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), promoting clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living since 1990, manages the Solar on Schools (SOS) Program, funded by the Couillard Solar Foundation (CSF). The CSF promotes the expansion of solar energy in Wisconsin through partnering with renewable energy focused, Wisconsin-based organizations, and since 2019 has provided grants to support 27 solar school projects.
Solar on Schools Case Studies, Program Contact, and Grant information is available on the MREA Solar on Schools website.
Here are some Solar on Schools CASE Studies:
Generation 180’s Solar School Campaign Toolkit is another great resource for schools in the process of investigating solar procurement.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources for State and Local Leaders May 2022–May 2023. This resource guide highlights resources and publications from the State and Local Solution Center website and across US DOE’s Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) programs.
The State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform SLOPE’s groundbreaking Scenario Planner allows users to visualize scenarios for future energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and system costs of a selected state or county. The Platform also features SLOPE Stories, which provide real-world examples of how states and local governments are using SLOPE to better understand their energy use and clean energy potential. SLOPE’s Data Viewer integrates energy and environmental justice-related data and projections for the cost and performance of key efficiency technologies.
Energy Savings Performance Contracting for Small Projects Primer, US DOE, May 2021 highlights strategies and case studies for implementing Energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) in smaller towns, rural counties, and small school districts to complete energy upgrades and maximize energy and cost savings without straining local budgets.
